Cigarette rod forming mechanism



June 20, 1939. c. s. STEPHANO CIGARETTE ROD FORMING MECHANISM Filed March 16, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR orzsfanfine 5, Siephano,

ATTORNEY C. S. STEPHANO CIGARETTE ROD FORMING MECHANISM June 20, 1939.

Filed March 16, 19:57 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Vlllllrllda lpa/ IllllI/lft a fig" I f 64 L INVENTOR WITNESSES C'onsi'ani'ine S. Sfephano 2E 2 2 V I iz ATTOR Y5 Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED} STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 16,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in cigarette rod forming mechanism for use in continuous rod cigarette making machines.

In continuous rod cigarette making machines, the rod forming mechanism exerts a retarding effect on the stream of tobacco which varies with variations in the coefilcient of friction between the tobacco and the rod forming surface. The rod forming mechanism usually includes a metallic tongue in engagement with the moving stream of tobacco for compressing the particles of tobacco into a continuous rod of suitable cross sectional size and shape to form cigarettes. The tongue is tapered in formation, gradually decreasing in size in the direction of feed of the stream of tobacco, and is arcuate in cross section, the smaller end thereof being approximately semi-circular in shape. Varying conditions, such as variations in the moisture content of the tobacco, or differences in the size of the tobacco particles or in the type of tobacco or portions of the leaves employed, result in variations in the coefficient of friction. At times, the coefficient of friction increases to such an extent that the tobacco becomes clogged under the tongue and produces what is known as a choke up or hang up, with the result that the cigarette paper, upon which the moving stream of tobacco is disposed, breaks. Also, there are intermediate stages where the coefficient of friction is such that the tobacco moves under the tongue too slowly or becomes temporarily clogged. In these instances, the cigarette paper does not break but a rod is formed having soft spots with too little tobacco therein. When the temporary clog is released the tobacco at that portion has been excessively compressed, with the result that a hard spot in the cigarette rod is produced which in many instances does not permit smoke to be drawn therethrough when the cigarette rod has been formed into cigarettes.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these difficulties and to provide improved cigarette rod forming mechanism which will produce a rod of uniform character in which the proper amount of tobacco has been uniformly compressed to the desired degree, and which effectively eliminates the danger of hang ups o1 choke ups, or of undesirable soft or hard spots in the cigarette rod.

A further object is the provision of improved rod forming mechanism of the above character which may be adjusted so that the shreds or particles of the tobacco are so compressed and arranged in the cigarette rod as to be effectively 1937, Serial No. 131,137

(Cl. 131-43) {vi held in position, and in which the arrangement of the shreds or particles can be readily controlled or adjusted.

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference shoud be had to the accompanying '5 drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic representation, partially in section, of rod forming mechanism embodying my invention, together with the associated parts of one well-known type of continuous rod ciga- 1o rette making machine;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of rod forming mechanism embodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a cigarette rod showing the manner 15 in which the tobacco shreds and particles may be compressed and interlaced so as to be effectively held in position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View in the direction of the arrows on the line 5-45 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rod forming tongue; and

Figs. '7 and 8 are longitudinal sectional views 25 of the rod forming mechanism with modified forms of driving or operating means.

My invention may be applied to any type of continuous rod cigarette making machine in which the rod forming mechanism is provided 30 with a rod forming tongue or the like which acts upon a moving stream of tobacco so as to compress the particles thereof into a continuous rod.

In Fig. 1 relevant portions of one well-known type of machine of this character are schemat- 35 ioally shown, but it is to be understood that the cigarette making machine per se forms no part of my invention but is merely illustrative of the character of machine to which my invention is applicable. The numeral Ill in that figure des- 40 ignates a tobacco feeding belt connected between rollers ll and I2 and passing around guide and tension rollers 63 and M. The belt is caused to rotate in the usual manner by means of the roller H in the direction of the arrows so as to 45 feed particles of tobacco in a continuous moving stream it downwardly until they are deposited upon a strip of cigarette paper of the usual width 1'5, which is fed from a supply roll (not shown) around the rollers ll and i8, and thence 50 over the surface of an endless belt it which is fed by roller 29. The strip of cigarette paper 16 and the belt H! are fed over the top of a platen 2|, at which point they pass beneath the rod forming mechanism indicated at 22. The 55 stream of tobacco I5 is deposited by belt l0 upon the moving strip of cigarette paper just prior to the rod forming mechanism, and is thence fed under the rod forming mechanism where it is compressed and shaped into a continuous rod of the desired character, the cigarette paper being partially folded about the rod at this point. After leaving the rod forming mechanism the remaining portion of the paper is folded about the rod and adhesively secured in position in the usual manner.

The operation which has been heretofore briefly outlined is the operation of a standard type of continuous rod cigarette making machine and is merely to illustrate the type of machine to which my apparatus is applicable. It is to be understood, however, that my rod forming mechanism may be applied to any continuous rod cigarette making machine employing a rod forming tongue.

The rod forming mechanism which is the subject matter of my invention includes a rod forming tongue or the like 23, which is preferably made of metal or other hard material and which is of approximately the usual shape and design, tapering gradually in the direction of feed from the enlarged beginning thereof indicated at 24, towards the end thereof indicated at 25. The tongue is generally arcuate in cross section presenting a smooth concave lower surface, being relatively broad at the beginning thereof, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4, and tapering down to a relatively narrow end which is preferably approximately semicircular in cross section as shown in Fig. 5. The tongue is positioned in the usual manner a short distance above the platen 2|, and the moving strip of paper l6 and the belt l9 pass thereunder, with the result that the moving stream of tobacco I5 is fed beneath the tongue. The tobacco is first received at the relatively enlarged entry portion 24 of the tongue and is thence fed beneath the tongue with the result that the tapering concave surface of the tongue causes the gradual compression and arrangement of the tobacco particles in the moving stream into a rod of the desired cross sectional size and shape.

To aid in the formation of a continuous cylindrical rod, the platen 2| should be provided with a groove 26 in the upper surface thereof in registry with the concave surface of the tongue 23 and which likewise tapers in the direction of feed from the beginning of the tongue towards the end thereof, as shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. In this way a rod of the desired shape is produced. The groove also aids in initiating the wrapping of the paper around the rod. This groove is a standard part of any continuous rod cigarette making machine and may be formed in the usual manner.

As has been heretofore described, variations in the coefiicient of friction between the inner surface of the tongue 23 and the tobacco results in undesirable variations in the degree of hardness of the cigarette rod and in extreme cases result in what is known as a hang up or a choke up. I overcome this difiiculty by providing the inner concave surface of the rod forming tongue with auxiliary feeding mechanism which aids in the feeding of the tobacco and thereby eliminates friction as an important factor in causing variations in the compactness of the tube. An efficient form of auxiliary feeding mechanism and the one which I prefer to use, although other types may be employed, consists of an auxiliary feed belt 28, which passes along the inner concave surface of the rod forming tongue 23 in contact therewith and which is caused to move in the direction of feed of the stream of tobacco, as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1, '7 and 8. The belt should be formed of flexible material so that it will conform in curvature with the curvature of the inner surface of the tongue. It may vary in width but preferably is about as wide as the curved inner surface of the narrow end 25 of the tongue, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5.

The top of the rod forming tongue is provided with a pair of upstanding longitudinally extending ribs 30, adjacent one end of which is secured a bracket 3! to which is journaled the guide roller 32 in such a manner that it is positioned adjacent the beginning 24 of the rod forming tongue so that the belt 28 may pass around the roller and thence through the tongue. At the other end of the tongue a roller 33 is journaled in a bracket 34 connected to the ribs 30, and beneath the roller 33 another guide 35 which may be a block or roller is secured to a bracket in a position adjacent the end of the tongue so that the belt 28 may feed outwardly from the tongue over guides 35 and 33, as shown in Figs. 1, '7 and 8. The belt 28 is thence passed around suitable guide and feed rollers so that it will be caused to travel through the tongue in the direction of feed of the stream of tobacco. The surface of the guide rollers may be slightly concave or grooved as shown in Fig. 5 to aid in causing belt 28 to assume the curvature of tongue 23. The brackets 31 and 34 form guides for the belt 28 as shown.

One manner in which the belt may be connected is illustrated in Fig. 1, in which the belt is fed outwardly from the end 25 of the tongue over the guides 35 and 33, and thence upwardly under tension roller 35 and around feed roller 31, from which point it passes downwardly around guide rollers 38, 39 and G0 to the guide roller 32 and is fed from that point through the inside of the tongue 23. The rollers 38 and 39 illustrated in Fig. 1 form together with a roller 4! part of the feed mechanism of a standard type of continuous rod cigarette making machine. The feed roller 3'! is caused to rotate by the driving mechanism of the machine, and in this way the belt 28 will be caused to move at the same speed as the belt Ill, cigarette paper 16, and the belt I9.

In Fig. 7 a modified type of feeding arrangement is shown in which the belt 28 passes from the roller 33 around feed roller 42, thence around guide roller 43, to roller 32. In Fig. 8 the belt 23 passes from roller 33 beneath roller 44, thence over feed roller 45, beneath guide roller 46, and thence around roller 32 and through the inside of the tongue.

In the three illustrated types of operating arrangements for the feed belt, as shown in Figs. 1, '7 and 8, the feed rollers 31, 42 and 45 may be driven from the feed mechanism of the cigarette machine and may be caused to operate in synchronism with and at the same rate of speed as the cigarette paper It and the belt I9. However, it may also be arranged that the relative rate of feed may be varied, or so that the belt 28 moves at a slightly greater speed than the strip of cigarette paper and the belt 19. Where the auxiliary belt 28 and the strip of cigarette paper l6 and main feed belt i 9 are caused to operate at the same rate of speed, the shreds of tobacco will be arranged in generally uniform relation longitudinally of the tube, the longer shreds, due to their tendency to twist, holding the shorter shreds in the cigarettes. If, however, the auxiliary feed belt 28 is caused to operate at a slightly greater speed than the strip of cigarette paper l6 and the belt IS), the shorter shreds 41 of tobacco will be caused to assume a position generally transverse of the cigarette rod and the longer shreds 48 will be interlaced with the smaller shreds and particles of tobacco, as shown in Fig. 3 in exaggerated form, and in this way the smaller particles of tobacco will be held firmly in position in the rod and will not be easily dislodged from the finished cigarette. In this way it is possible to make firm satisfactory cigarettes with less tobacco than is usually employed. It is accordingly desirable in many instances to have the auxiliary feeding belt 28 operate at a slightly greater speed than the belt l9 and the strip of cigarette paper l6. Variations in the relative speed of the auxiliary belt 28 may be accomplished by replacing the feed rollers 31, 42 and 45 with feed rollers of different sizes.

It will be seen that when a rod forming tongue is provided with an auxiliary feed belt 28 as described above, the stream of tobacco l5 which is fed beneath the tongue on paper l6 and belt l9 will be compressed by the tapering concave surface of the tongue to the desired size and shape, and that by adjusting the relative speed of. the belts the arrangement of the shreds and. particles can be controlled. However, due to the provision of the feed belt 28, friction between the inner surface of the tongue and the moving stream of tobacco is effectively eliminated as a factor in causing variations in compactness of the tobacco in the cigarette rod, with the result that different types and cuts of tobacco and tobacco of different moisture content can be fed through the apparatus and will produce a rod of uniform character without danger of hang ups or choke ups.

When my invention has been applied to cigarette rod forming mechanism the most satisfactory results are obtained by forming the rod forming tongue slightly shorter than those heretofore employed. At the end of the rod forming tongue 23 it is then preferable to provide a short auxiliary tongue 49 which may be suitably held. in position as by means of the bracket 50. The auxiliary feed belt 28, however, does not extend through the auxiliary tongue. The purpose of the auxiliary tongue 49 is to prevent the escape of any loose particles of tobacco from the top of the cigarette rod after it emerges from the end of the tongue 23. It will be seen that at this point the paper extends upwardly on both sides of the tongue 23, as indicated at 5!, and that until at least one side of the paper is folded down over the rod some of the tobacco particles or shreds might escape. One of the edges of the cigarette paper is folded down over the top of the auxiliary tongue 49 as the cigarette rod passes therethrough, with the result that when the rod emerges from the end of the auxiliary tongue no tobacco particles can escape. The folding of the paper forms no part of the present invention and is accomplished in the usual manner.

It will be seen that by means of the present invention a cigarette rod of uniform compactness in which the tobacco particles and shreds are firmly held in position, may be formed in a convenient manner without the danger of hang ups or choke ups. It will also be seen that slight variations in the moisture content of the tobacco or in the size or nature of the tobacco particles, will not result in variations in the size or compactness of the cigarette rod.

While in the accompanying drawings I have illustrated several preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claim; thus, the driving mechanism for the auxiliary belt may be modified, and also the invention may be applied to continuous rod cigarette machines having rod forming tongues and. the like therein of many different types. Also it is to be understood that while the flexible belt forms the preferred type of auxiliary feed other types of auxiliary feed, such as a screw feed or the like, may be employed in association with the tongue.

I claim:

In a continuous rod cigarette making machine a stationary rod forming member having a concave smooth surfaced portion tapering from the beginning to the end, a tobacco feeding belt positioned beneath and spaced from the concave portion and adapted to feed a stream of tobacco particles beneath said portion so as to form the stream into a continuous rod of tobacco, and a flexible feed belt extending along the entire length of the concave smooth surfaced portion and having means for feeding it in the direction of feed of the stream of tobacco, the space above the first mentioned belt in the path of movement of the stream of tobacco immediately prior to the cigarette rod forming member being free from obstruction so that the tobacco particles are in an uncompressed state when in first contact with the concave smooth surfaced portion of the cigarette rod forming member.

CONSTANTINE S. STEPHANO. 

